On the road again this week, I was listening to a talk show in which callers were invited to talk about taking their kids to college for the first time. Having never done this myself, it does sound like an emotional letting-go moment. But what impressed me even more were the high expectations these parents have for college experiences. Yes, most of them did mention hopes that their child would fit in, find friends, and have as one mom described it, “a wholesome social life.” Also true, most of them did mention career goals—the hope that college will prepare students for professions that pay well and for professions where there will be jobs. What I didn’t expect to hear were the more lofty goals.
Archive for August, 2009
A Student Who Needs a Teacher
Posted Thursday, August 20th, 2009 by Maryellen WeimerI’m teaching a young woman to knit socks. We don’t have much time as she heads off for college very shortly. This will be her third college in as many years. Her transcript is a hodge podge of courses, many of them dropped and most the rest C’s. It makes me sad. She’s plenty smart enough to be doing well in college, but so far she has not connected with any part of the college experience.
Teaching Styles and Personae
Posted Tuesday, August 18th, 2009 by Maryellen WeimerI’m trying out content from my new book at some of the workshops I’m doing this month. The discussion we had about teaching style and teaching personae at Georgia State College and University got me thinking more about the topic. I’m convinced useful distinctions can be made between the two.
Reasons to Read Deeply
Posted Thursday, August 13th, 2009 by Maryellen WeimerMany of our students don’t read well. They read slowly, struggle with the vocabulary and retain little. They need stronger reading skills—to succeed in college and in life. We need to encourage them to read deeply, to read for understanding and retention, but how do we do that? Roberts and Roberts suggest six ways to entice students to read at deeper levels.
Sharing the Feedback
Posted Thursday, August 6th, 2009 by Maryellen WeimerIn a study exploring what motivates students to provide faculty feedback about teaching and learning, results indicated students find it “desirable” when faculty share the results of the anonymous feedback they have provided the instructor. The study’s author identifies five reasons why it’s beneficial to share feedback results with students.
Interesting Interview about Atttention
Posted Tuesday, August 4th, 2009 by Maryellen WeimerLast week I heard an interesting interview with Winifred Gallagher, author of a new book, Rapt: Attention and the Focused Life. She’s a science writer and the book looks at recent brain research on attention and focus. She was so articulate, knowledgeable and able to explicate complicated research. I’ve put her book near the top of my “must read” list.